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“Be selfish.” As she still sat cuddled on his lap, Aodh caressed down her back and then up. “Mate, you were denied the time to get to know him and learn your history. A little while longer will not hinder what needs to take place this day.”

She cupped his cheek and felt the defined, chiseled muscles along his jawline press into the center of her palm.

Kai leaned into the big, big man who could make her feel small and precious regardless of her thick curves.

Bringing her lips down, she kissed him. Expecting it to be a brief kiss, her heart bloomed, and her desire flared when Aodh cupped the back of her head and deepened the kiss.

He licked her bottom lip, then nipped the plump flesh and caused her to gasp at the wicked spark of pain. His tongue entered her mouth, sliding along hers for a moment, just long enough for them to connect.

She heard the sigh of his dragon inside her mind.

Myhnn , it whispered in Drahk.

Aodh didn’t allow the kiss to get to the point where their lust knew no bounds, only so the heat of his strength filled and bolstered her. He pulled back.

“You ready?”

“Yes.”

He cradled her against his chest to allow himself freedom to rise.

Kai felt his bulky thigh muscles flex beneath the material of his pants before he rose with ease, her still in his arms. Once they were standing, he released her legs and let her glide down his massive form until her feet were planted on the ground.

“Let’s go.” He took her hand and headed for the door.

She glanced over her shoulder to see the stark whiteness of her great-great-uncle.

His dragon still lay on the mountain of pearls, appearing peaceful in the cool hoard room, where the temperature had significantly dropped now that the flame in the cave-like wall had been snuffed with the great dragon’s death.

Say hello to Jaseena and Draig for me, Uncle Drago.

Even with her uncle gone, she hoped he could somehow hear the thoughts in her heart.

Now that she knew the story of her ancestors’ profound, abiding love, she wanted to hold on to every precious moment she had with the Drahk leading her out of the room.

In the short time she and Aodh knew each other, it was only a minute in their lifetime together.

But, when she compared it to the extent of Jaseena and Draig’s relationship, which was short-lived, she knew she could not take any moment for granted because years were not promised to them.

“Mckenna.” Aine stood sentry at the closet door inside the room.

Kai remembered first meeting the guard outside her sister’s suite. She was grateful that the security guard had ensured she had the time she needed to be with her uncle. Seeing the female dragon-shifter made Kai think of Morlie. Her heart sank.

From the group of people taking up space in the bedroom waiting to tend to Drago, Kai understood there was a lot for the Thunder to handle this day.

Drago had already passed, so there wasn’t a rush.

However, first thing tomorrow, she would ask Aodh to help her contact Morlie.

Even though he’d convinced her that her sister needed time to adjust to her new life with the Lupine, sharing the news about their ancestry and Drago’s death was essential for Morlie to know.

Speaking to her sister by radio would hopefully confirm that Morlie was doing well and ease Kai’s concern, even if she could not see her.

“Thank you, Aine. I appreciate the time given.” Aodh offered a brisk nod to the guard.

“It’s an honor, Mckenna.” Aine’s chest puffed out at Aodh’s praise.

When Kai started passing the security guard, she recalled something else about the Drahkelle.

As she glanced at the female standing with her large sword strapped to her back, Kai took a moment to listen.

She wasn’t sure if she was doing it right, especially with so many Drahks gathered.

Still, since the only one in dragon form was her deceased uncle, any other females were closer to the age of the Wise One council, and she didn’t feel as if she’d mistake anything she picked up from them.

She just had to ensure she filtered out Aodh’s thoughts.

However, it wasn’t until then that she realized she couldn’t hear her mate’s thoughts.

Her brows pinched as she tried to recall the last time she’d heard him speaking to her, which he enjoyed doing when they were together. However, she realized that besides his beast’s mental communication with her, Aodh had been relatively silent since her uncle’s passing.

She didn’t concern herself with it, figuring he’d mentally set the wall between them to give her space to deal with her rioting emotions. He had the Thunder’s business to oversee.

Aodh had told her that all Drahks were connected, and during the short time of her pregnancy, she’d learned to block most of the dragon chatter out.

Trying to discover what had pulled at her senses, Kai concentrated.

She refocused so that she listened more with her mind than her ears.

She inhaled and exhaled a few times to calm her overwrought heart thumping in her ears.

Then she heard the most delicate sound: a heartbeat, tiny and fragile like a hatchling.

Then she heard the chirping, the sound dragons made when they were content and joyful.

She bit her lip to lock down the gasp threatening to spring out of her mouth.

Even as her heart was filled with despair, something pure and blissful came with the sound of little ones caused by their innocence, and she felt it now—not only because she heard it coming from the female guard but also because it was multiplied by two, hers and another’s.

Kai placed a hand on her belly as she slipped her other hand from Aodh’s and approached the security. Standing before the stoic female, the soft, fragile sound became just a fraction louder. Their hatchlings were communicating. It was the first time Kai had heard her little one.

Aine’s gaze met her own. Both viewed each other through a watery haze.

She recognized that while one being was leaving the world, two others would soon arrive. This may not be the best time, but Kai couldn’t allow the moment to pass. So, she moved closer to Aine and whispered, “Congratulations on your hatchling.”

The guard's mouth turned up at the corners, her gaze luminous. “Thank you, Aguya. My mate and I are happy.”

Resisting the urge to embrace the pregnant shifter because Drahks eschewed physical touch unless it came from family, Kai kept her hands linked to her swelling midriff. “Any days you have off from your position, you are granted permission to visit with me.”

A blush tinted the tall, muscular Drahkelle’s cheeks. “Expect me soon.”

Kai returned to Aodh’s side as a line of people began to file through the closet, clutching large empty burlap totes and moving toward the hoard room. She frowned, wondering what was going on.

Sensing her nearness, Aodh wrapped his arm around her and pressed his hand into the fullness of her hip. His fingers flexed briefly, and she knew he must feel her complex emotions as if questioning if she was all right.

Kai leaned into him. I’m well, mate. Don’t worry.

She didn’t let her thoughts linger, ensuring she didn’t crowd him.

Aodh’s fingers relaxed.

She could not wait until they were alone to speak with him about what had happened. He was now in Mckenna mode, and she needed to allow him his mental space to manage his people.

“Is everything in place?” Aodh asked Doryu when he pulled away from the others gathered.

“Yes, Mckenna. After the archiving, the preparation team will enter and notify the escorts when Drago is ready.

“Sounds as if you have everything organized here, Doryu.”

The older female rolled her shoulders back. “We knew it would be soon and set things up. Drago served the Thunder. We will support you in honoring him in all ways.”

“Then I will allow you to tend to the things you need to.” Aodh pulled her close as he let Doryu pass.

When Keahl arrived, they headed out of the home. Beyond the older tactical director's broad shoulders, Kai spotted a line of people standing outside with jars filled with various things, cloths, and buckets of water.

“As you can see,” Keahl gestured to the line of the Drahks waiting to go in.

“The more hands we have, the faster things can be handled,” Aodh commented. “Who’s managing the ceremony prep?”

“Idalia has organized her grower team to gather the wood to construct the altar. I will fly to the center to provide assistance and meet the healer.”

Kai knew that Eilidh was training with the growers and wondered if she would be a part of the ones on the task. Now that Morlie was gone, Kai rarely saw her mate’s younger sister.

“And the escorts?” Aodh glanced away from Keahl briefly as his mother, Tana, and another older Drahkelle stepped out of the line and approached them.

“Set. I contacted your brother, Edjer, and Rhys. They should meet you here before nightfall.”

“Good. I’ll return. Well done, Keahl.”

“Thank you, Mckenna. It is an honor the Wise One deserves.” Without another word, Keahl inclined his head to Aodh and then her before stepping away and transforming into his dragon.

Kai watched the Wise One take to the sky before she faced Aodh’s mother and the other two women.

“Mckenna. Aguya Kai.” All three women greeted them.

Brenna was the only one who stepped close to Aodh, kissed him on the cheek, and embraced Kai. Her gaze took in both her and Aodh. “Did you find the answers you needed, Kai?”

“More.” Kai absorbed the warmth of the older woman's touch on her arm. The strength in her mate’s mother's grip helped soothe some of the frayed emotions inside Kai. “We learned Drago not only knew the rings' origins, but he was my family. My uncle.”

Brenna’s ebony eyebrows lifted high.

Kai felt her throat tighten again.

“Oh, then this moment is a true blessing from the Great Spirit, child.” Brenna drew Kai closer but didn’t embrace her again.